Setback in fight to end fish discards

A campaign to end the wasteful practice of "discarding" – where trawlers that exceed their EU quota throw some of their catch back into the sea dead – has suffered a setback in the European Parliament.

MEPs voted by 349 to 303 on Wednesday to alter the wording of a motion from a commitment to the "elimination" of discards to their "reduction".

The campaign to end the practice has been led by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the television chef, and the EU Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki.

MEPs also voted to reject the European Commission's proposal to rebuild depleted fish stocks.